Dr. Jenni Barrett is Director of coLAB and Senior Lecturer and Researcher at the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan). Jenni’s work is grounded in her 15 years of experience in the construction industry working in building design, urban design, and infra-structure design teams.
Jenni lectures and conducts research on the social and psychological aspects of working in design teams, looking in particular at how digital interaction differs from traditional face to face collaboration. She is also a leading researcher on gender equity in construction, with findings recently included in parliamentary group briefings on the recruitment and retention of women in the built environment.
Jenni is a member of the Institute for Research into Organisations, Work and Employment at UCLan and a core team member of the WIB network. Her research and training consultancy, coLAB offers a variety of training programmes and research support to construction industry organisations, with specialist programmes to enhance organisational cultures, project team collaboration, creativity and diversity in the Industry 4.0 workplace and on BIM projects.
Jenni’s work with WIB includes support for key events across the UK as well as supporting the team in the education and knowledge of women in the wider construction landscape. Jenni has chaired many of the WIB webinars as well as helps to support written content for the group.
